Out a day early to JUST beat the fiscal announcement… As Jeremy Hunt’s cuts come in, we look at why austerity has never worked before and won’t work now – and whether the infamous fiscal Black Hole is even real. Plus, Labour activist Michael Chessum of Another Europe Is Possible and Momentum talks about his new book This Is Only the Beginning: The Making of a New Left, from Anti-Austerity to the Fall of Corbyn. And in the Extra Bit… Gerontocracy Now? From Biden to Lula to Putin, why do rocky systems end up with ancient leaders? Listeners can get 25% off Michael’s book This Is Only the Beginning. Go here and use the code Whatnow_25 https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/this-is-only-the-beginning-9780755641284/ “We are going to have to pay the Truss-Kwarteng Idiot Premium for decades to come.” – Alex Andreou “There’s huge public support for union action now that we’re in a crisis… You can hear the rumble of the cavalry in the distance.” – Michael Chessum “This isn’t a fiscal hole. Truss and Kwarteng created a credibility hole.” – Alex Andreou “Hunt is banking on Keir Starmer making the same mistake that Ed Miliband did… We’re not hearing a clear anti-austerity line from Labour.” – Michael Chessum Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey with Alex Andreou and Yasmeen Serhan. Producers: Alex Rees and Jet Geburtson. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Theme music by Cornershop. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices